Rafael Becker leads Northeast Amateur with opening-round 62

June 19, 2013 | by Benjamin Larsen of AmateurGolf.com

MVC Sports Photo

Rafael Becker, of Brazil, went 7-under to take the lead over one of the season's top fields

RUMFORD, R.I. (June 19, 2013) -- Rafael Becker, who recently wrapped up his collegiate career at Wichita State, fired a first-round 62 and leads by four shots at the 52nd playing of the Northeast Amateur Invitational.

Featuring one of the top fields in all of amateur golf, chock full of collegiate and mid-amateur stars alike, the Northeast is one of the season's prized events. Becker, a native of Brazil, took over the headlines with his 7-under 62 on the unique par-69 Wannamoisett Country Club, a Donald Ross design.

Sitting four shots back is a group of four players at 3-under 66. Bo Andrews, Bobby Leopold, Cory Whitsett and Cameron Wilson, a New England native now at Stanford.

Clancy Waugh and reigning NCAA Champion Max Homa of Cal, are all within striking distance at 2-under and tied for sixth place.

A terrific group of contenders sits six shots back and tied for eighth place. Among them are Louisiana mid-amateur and Walker Cup hopeful Patrick Christovich, Cal senior and the 2012 U.S. Amateur runner-up Michael Weaver, 2012 Ouimet Memorial winner Jack Whelan, LSU All- American Curtis Thompson and Garrett Rank, the runner-up at last year's U.S. Mid- Amateur Championship.

The northeast has received plenty of rain in the past few weeks and scoring conditions on a beautiful day were prime. All told, 15 players are either at or under par after Round 1.

Other notable players lurking on the leaderboard are: Cal's Brandon Hagy (T-26), Texas signee Beau Hossler (T-26), Walker Cup mid-am hopeful Todd White (T-26), Porter Cup champion Richy Werenski (T-26), high-ranking junior Cody Proveaux (T- 42), Haskins winner and U.S. Open low amateur Michael Kim (T-54), North-South winner Peter Williamson (T-54).

Second-round action continues Thursday with a cut taking place after Round 3 on Friday.

Amateurgolf.com will be covering the event throughout the week, including live coverage Friday, along with video coverage from the Long Drive Contest.

For full results visit the link below.

Results: Northeast Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Cory Whitsett	Houston, TX	1500	66-68-69-63--266
2	Bo Andrews	Raleigh, NC	1000	66-69-71-62--268
3	Patrick Rodgers	Avon, IN	700	71-65-67-68--271
4	Rafael Becker	, Brazil	700	62-70-69-73--274
T5	Todd White	Spartanburg, SC	700	71-72-67-65--275

View full results for Northeast Amateur

About the Northeast Amateur

Rafael Becker leads Northeast Amateur with opening-round 62

The Northeast Amateur has a historic list of winners, including Ben Crenshaw, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Luke Donald, Scott Hoch, John Cook, Hal Sutton, and David Duval. It has been annually held at the Donald Ross-designed Wannamoisett Country...